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Indian Cricket Team reached maiden Women’s T20 World Cup final 2020

Indian Cricket Team reached maiden Women’s T20 World Cup final 2020

Big day for Indian Cricket Team as they have reached ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final. India’s semifinal against England was washed out due to pouring rain at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

ICC officials declared the match has been called off without a ball being bowled. This made unbeaten Harmanpreet Kaur’s Indian Cricket team to make their finals as they topped the table.

Indian Cricket Team reached maiden Women’s T20 World Cup final 2020

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur also opined that it’s unfortunate when a game loses in front of the weather. She endorsed the idea of having a reserve day for future events. Shafali Verma, the topper in the ICC T20 batting rankings is the second Indian after Mithali Raj to reach the number one position.

This is the first time Indian Women’s cricket team made it to finals of the ICC T20 World Cup. India will now play against four-times champions Australia at the MCG on 8 March, International Women’s Day.

India won the league match against Australia earlier in this tournament and the final match offers a repeat of the very first game.  Will India repeat?

QatarIndians.com team wish Team India to continue their unbeaten campaign at the MCG to lift the T20 World cup 2020.

INDIAN TEAM
  • TANIYA BHATIATaniya Bhatia
  • HARLEEN DEOLHarleen Deol
  • RAJESHWARI GAYAKWADRajeshwari Gayakwad
  • RICHA GHOSHRicha Ghosh
  • VEDA KRISHNAMURTHYVeda Krishnamurthy
  • SMRITI MANDHANASmriti Mandhana
  • SHIKHA PANDEYShikha Pandey
  • ARUNDHATI REDDYArundhati Reddy
  • JEMIMAH RODRIGUESJemimah Rodrigues
  • DEEPTI SHARMADeepti Sharma
  • POOJA VASTRAKARPooja Vastrakar
  • SHAFALI VERMAShafali Verma
  • POONAM YADAVPoonam Yadav
  • RADHA YADAVRadha Yadav

Image Credit: India reached a maiden women’s Twenty20 World Cup final(PTI)

FASTag to become mandatory for all vehicles from 1st December 2019 | ‘Digital India’ initiative

FASTag to become mandatory for all vehicles from 1st December 2019

So you better get your tag … real fast!

Special Correspondent

Delhi: In line with the Indian government’s ‘Digital India’ initiative, Nitin Gadkari, the Road Transport and Highways Minister, has announced that FASTags will become mandatory for all vehicles, private and commercial, from December 1, 2019.

As per media reports, vehicles without FASTags will have to now pay up to twice the normal rate at toll-gates across the country.

With only one week left for the rule to be implemented, it is important that vehicle owners/drivers get their Fastag asap if they do not have it already.

According to official sources, the new Fastag initiative has a three-fold purpose. Firstly, it is being put into effect to further bolster digital payments throughout the country, secondly to act as an effective means to decongest highways and finally to promote transparency through digital payments.

Fastag is surely on the fast track to help make ‘Digital India’ a reality but what real benefits does this new initiative aimed towards cashless toll payments have in for the end-user? Or will it take a toll on the already overburdened highway user?

There are currently issued by 22 certified banks through various channels such as Point-of-Sale (POS) at National Highway toll plazas and bank branches.

The Economic Times further explains the nitty-gritty of Digital India’s Fastag initiative:

What is FASTag and how does it work?

FASTag is a passive device, affixed to a vehicle’s windscreen, which works on the principle of radio frequency identification (RFID) and enables cashless toll payments without requiring the vehicle to stop and wait in a queue.

When a motorist drives a vehicle equipped with the RFID tag through a dedicated-toll plaza lane, a FASTag reader automatically detects the tagged vehicle and charges the appropriate amount from a linked account, while the vehicle is still in motion.

The motorist gets intimated about the toll deducted via SMS on his registered mobile number.

Where can the FASTag be used?

FASTags were introduced over four years ago and until now, their usage has been optional. At the moment, they can be used at over 500 toll plazas across the country, including all national highways as well as some state highways.

However, beginning December 1, FASTags will become mandatory for all four-wheeler passenger vehicles and all commercial vehicles including buses, trucks, tractors and construction machinery at all national highways. This means that all lanes at national highway toll plazas will only allow electronic toll collection through FASTag, with just one lane reserved for collection through cash.

Almost 90 percent toll plazas are ready with FASTag infrastructure and only some new toll plazas will face teething issues.

What are the benefits of FASTag?

The implementation of FASTag can help alleviate numerous problems. Since coming to a complete halt at the turnpike for cash transactions is not required, major bottlenecks on highways are avoided.

Commuters save time that they otherwise would have wasted waiting in long queues. The expeditious passage of vehicles through toll plazas also helps in reducing fuel consumption and ultimately curbing air pollution.

Moreover, the whole system promotes digital payments, reduces cash handling and increases transparency.

As an added incentive, motorists paying toll through FASTag at any national highway are promised a 2.5 percent cashback till March 31, 2020.

How can a FASTag be acquired?

In the run-up to the December 1 deadline, new passenger vehicles nowadays are already equipped with FASTags.

Existing vehicle owners can purchase the RFID tags from more than 20 NETC authorised member banks (the complete list of which is available here).

Additionally, they are also retailed through point-of-sale (POS) locations at select toll plazas, the NPCI website, Amazon website and the official MyFASTag app on the Google Play Store.

The price of a FASTag is fixed at Rs 100, but the threshold balance to be loaded in the FASTag account will differ as per the issuer’s transaction rules.

To further facilitate the adoption of the new technology, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been directed to issue free FASTags till December 1.

Free FASTags will be available at all points of sale of the NHAI and they will also be made available at other places having a high potential of sales.

Consequently, the security deposit for each of the tags issued from designated outlets, until November end, will be borne by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Some of the documents required for obtaining and activating a FASTag include the vehicle’s registration certificate and the owner’s photograph and other identity proofs.

Moreover, a FASTag is vehicle specific and is linked to the car’s registration. As such, once assigned to a vehicle, it cannot be transferred to another vehicle. The tag has a validity of 5 years.

How can a FASTag be recharged?

A FASTag can either be linked to a prepaid account or to the customer’s savings/current account. The former requires the tag to be topped up as per the owner’s usage. This can be done through any UPI-enabled smartphone app and also through the MyFASTag app. Additionally, users have the choice of recharging their accounts from the issuer bank’s website using debit cards, credit cards, and net banking.

The NETC digital platform has already proved to be quite promising over the past four years.

In September this year, an average of 9.7 lakh transactions were processed daily through FASTags across the country.

Since the programme began, over 56 crore FASTag payments amounting to Rs 13,449 crore had been processed till the end of September 2019.

Diwali 2019 | What’s all this noise about environment during Diwali?

Diwali 2019 | What’s all this noise about environment during Diwali?

By George Julius Williams

Diwali is just around the corner, and as in previous years, environmentalists in India are hell-bent on enlightening people and giving sound advice on the effects of air and noise pollution during this holy festival of lights (and sound).

The exploding cries of the environmentalists forced Supreme Court last year to intervene and spur the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to direct its National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Nagpur to develop “green crackers”.

A team at NEERI comprising of 24 scientists cum res­earchers and helmed by Dr. Mrs. Sadhana Rayul, took nine months to develop the first prototypes, followed by tests to produce India’s first ‘green fireworks’.

And this Diwali, these would be tested by people.

The project led by the CSIR-NEERI has come up with green firecrackers, which will not contain, or have in reduced amounts, polluting chemicals such as aluminum, potassium nitrate and carbon. By doing so, the government claims, these fireworks will release 30% less particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 10 into the atmosphere. That means, emissions will come down by 15 to 30 %. Also, CSIR has developed flower pots/anaars that can reduce particulate matter by 40%.

The eco-friendly firecrackers are named Safe Water Releaser (SWAS), Safe Thermite Cracker (STAR) and Safe Minimal Aluminium (SAFAL). These will release water vapour into the air as a dust suppressant and dilute gaseous emissions

Unfortunately, only a handful of companies are manufacturing ‘green firecrackers’.  In the firecracker-manufacturing hub of Sivakasi, just a few factories have got the required ‘green’ licences. The area has 1,070 factories, employing around 300,000 people, while another 500,000 are involved in ancillary businesses such as boxing of firecrackers.

A Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) official feels that more makers will come forward once the top court gives its decision on barium nit­rate. “They are waiting for more clarity,” he explained.

The court has banned barium, which is generally used in anaars, chakras, rockets and phooljaris. Almost all the eco-friendly products can be manufactured, but a few categories can come out only when the court gives its directions on barium – the chemical element used to produce the colour green.

Although, the ‘green crackers’ will reduce emissions by at least 30 % scientists feel that these will hardly help clean up the air.

But the response has been enthusiastic. “The eco-friendly route, if adopted properly, can do wonders especially since the fire-crackers industry along with NEERI is doing its best to design improved formulations, even smokeless firecrackers and as we go ahead, we will have many variants and compositions developed by us and other six CSIR institutions,” according to NEERI director Rakesh Kumar.

The hunt for fireworks emitting little or no smoke has intensified over the past few years when Delhi and its neighbouring states were choked in a haze, so much so that the government had to bring punishing measures such as fines for stubble-burning.

And this Diwali, memories of that smoke shroud ret­urns to haunt. Director Dr Gufran Beig of the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) which tracks pollution levels has sent out a warning already – Delhi’s air quality has plummeted to “poor”. Beig is hopeful that green crackers will help reduce extreme pollution but he admits that the air cannot be cleaned overnight, but steady progress is happening.

Unfortunately, far only 160 manufacturers are on board and number is a whimper considering the size of India’s fireworks industry that is worth IRs 20,000 crore in annual sales but largely remains a non-organised industry. That amount inc­ludes IRs 5,000 crore of Chinese products, market experts say, though possession and sale of imported fireworks are illegal.

China has no reason to worry about any Indian ban on its goods, according to an article in The Global Times, basing its argument on the premise that “India’s manufacturing sector is highly uncompetitive against China’s, which is able to offer daily necessities with a high performance-price ratio.”

The article then brings Prime Minster Modi into its argument who has been quoted as telling Network18 that  – “Some Indians are choosing to boycott Chinese products, it is a matter for the public to decide. As far as public sentiment toward Chinese goods is concerned, we should leave it to their sooj-boojh (wisdom).”

But experts feel the Chinese boycott is doomed to fail and Indian people will eventually comply with the wisdom of the consumer who promotes the ghost of nationalism to boycott Chinese products in the short term but will finally choose products with a high performance-price ratio in the long term, no matter where those products are made.

And coming to noise pollution, Diwali was kinder on the ears last year, compared to previous years, according to The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India’s top pollution watchdog.

The data showed that the ambient noise level at 70 locations in 7 major cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad revealed that compared to last Diwali, 56 locations witnessed a decrease in and 10 an increase in noise pollution during the day. 53 locations saw a decrease and 14 places an increase. Out of 70 locations, only 9 locations are meeting both the daytime and night-time standards.

Noise pollution causes deleterious effects on the health and psychological well-being of people. Experts say noise in excess of 90 decibels can cause neurosis and nervous breakdown and eventually loss of hearing and irreversible changes in the nervous system.

With air and noise pollution reaching emergency levels in the capital and adjoining areas, the Centre is planning to meet state environment ministers to discuss measures to improve the quality of the atmosphere.

So come this Diwali, according to both PM Modi and NEERI, the decision to reduce air and noise pollution will lie literally in the hands of the Indian people.

Will Indians get enlightened and listen to sound advice this Dipawali? Well, this is a question that can only be answered when the after-effects of this festival are complied and revealed by the relevant agencies.

Once the sound and smoke have settled down and the lights dimmed will we know, if this Diwali was ‘sweet’ music to the ears of the environmentalists, as compared to previous years.

QatarIndians wishes all its readers a Happy, Prosperous and Safe Diwali!

Light up the lives of the Visually Impaired: Shailja Chandar – Finalist for the crown of Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide 2019

Light up the lives of the Visually Impaired: Shailja Chandar – Finalist for the crown of Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide 2019

Shailja-Chandar-finalist-Haut-Monde-Mrs-India-Worldwide-2019Hey! My name’s Shailja Chandar and I am here as a finalist for the crown of Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide 2019.

As the saying goes, ‘Charity is the best reflection of beauty’ We at Mrs.India Worldwide believe that everyone has to give back something to our society. By your contribution, someone’s life will change for the better.

Click here to support in the form of generous donations via this campaign and making it a successful, collective effort.

The Rashtriya Blind School and Training Center

The Rashtriya Blind School and Training Center was started in the Najafgarh area of Delhi on August 5, 2002. Given its verdict, the Government of India registered it on 29 August 2003 in the name of Louie Braille Education Society. The main aim of the institution is to create the life of blind students. In this institution, about 400 blind students are studying and studying in different branches.

Light-up-the-lives-of-the-Visually-Impaired-Rashtriya-Blind-SchoolIn these branches, the blind children are provided free of cost meals, lodging, braille education, music education, computer training, candle making, and various training.

It is with this in mind that I have conceived a plan to raise funds in order to sponsor the day-to-day task of running the school.

For more info, I’d wish you to visit www.rbsind.org

APPEAL

I look forward to seeing your support in the form of generous donations via this campaign and making it a successful, collective effort. Please do share this on your FB wall, Twitter, SMS, Whatsapp and try to make my voice reach to the millions out there!

Together let’s make a difference.

Thank You!

At 17.5 million, Indian diaspora largest in the world: UN report

At 17.5 million, Indian diaspora largest in the world: UN report

India’s leading country of origin of international migrants with a 17.5 mn strong diaspora, a UN report said.

PTI: India was the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million strong diaspora, according to new estimates released by the United Nationswhich said the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million.

The International Migrant Stock 2019, a dataset released by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on September 18, provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by age, sex, and origin for all countries and areas of the world.

The estimates are based on official national statistics on the foreign-born or the foreign population obtained from population censuses, population registers or nationally representative surveys.

The report said that the top 10 countries of origin account for one-third of all international migrants. In 2019, with 17.5 million persons living abroad, India was the leading country of origin of international migrants.

Migrants from Mexico constituted the second-largest diaspora (11.8 million), followed by China (10.7 million), Russia (10.5 million), Syria (8.2 million), Bangladesh (7.8 million), Pakistan (6.3 million), Ukraine (5.9 million), the Philippines (5.4 million) and Afghanistan (5.1 million).

India hosted 5.1 million international migrants in 2019, less than 5.2 million in 2015. International migrants as a share of the total population in India was steady at 0.4% from 2010 to 2019.

The country hosted 207,000 refugees, the report said, adding that refugees as a share of international migrants in the country was four percent. Among the international migrants in the country, the female population was 48.8% and the median age of international migrants was 47.1 years.

In India, the highest number of international migrants came from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.

In 2019, regionally, Europe hosted the largest number of international migrants (82 million), followed by Northern America (59 million) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (49 million).

At the country level, about half of all international migrants reside in just 10 countries, with the United States of America hosting the largest number of international migrants (51 million), equal to about 19% of the world’s total.

Germany and Saudi Arabia host the second and third largest numbers of migrants (13 million each), followed by Russia (12 million), the United Kingdom (10 million), the United Arab Emirates (9 million), France, Canada and Australia (around 8 million each) and Italy (6 million).

The share of international migrants in total population varies considerably across geographic regions with the highest proportions recorded in Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand) (21.2%) and Northern America (16.0%) and the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean (1.8%), Central and Southern Asia (1.0%) and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (0.8%).

A majority of international migrants in sub-Saharan Africa (89%), Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (83%), Latin America and the Caribbean (73%), and Central and Southern Asia (63%) originated from the region in which they reside.

By contrast, most of the international migrants that lived in Northern America (98%), Oceania (88%) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (59%) were born outside their region of residence.

UN Under-Secretary-General for DESA Liu Zhenmin said that these data are critical for understanding the important role of migrants and migration in the development of both countries of origin and destination.

Facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people will contribute much to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The report added that forced displacements across international borders continue to rise.

Between 2010 and 2017, the global number of refugees and asylum seekers increased by about 13 million, accounting for close to a quarter of the increase in the number of all international migrants.

Northern Africa and Western Asia hosted around 46% of the global number of refugees and asylum seekers, followed by sub-Saharan Africa (21%).

Turning to gender composition, women comprise slightly less than half of all international migrants in 2019.

The share of women and girls in the global number of international migrants fell slightly, from 49% in 2000 to 48% in 2019.

The share of migrant women was highest in Northern America (52%) and Europe (51%), and lowest in sub-Saharan Africa (47%) and Northern Africa and Western Asia (36%).

In terms of age, one out of every seven international migrants is below the age of 20 years.

Photo: UNCCD

Also Read:

The Embassy of India in Qatar in partnership with Katara Cultural Village will be holding “Islamic Monuments of India – An Exhibition

Mumbai Airport to change terminals for domestic and international flights from 1 October 2019

Mumbai Airport to change terminals for domestic and international flights from 1 October 2019

In a move aimed at passengers and airlines convenience, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has unified operations all international flights of IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir from Terminal 2.

IndiGo and GoAir domestic flights will operate from Terminal 1 and SpiceJet domestic flights from Terminal 2 of Mumbai Airport.

“Starting October 1, IndiGo and GoAir to operate all domestic flights from T1 and International from T2, while SpiceJet to shift full operation to T2. The structural streamline of airlines initiated for the greater benefit and convenience of the passengers,” said a release from the Mumbai international airport.

“Being one of the busiest airports in India, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has allocated Terminal 1 with terminal boarding bridges for all airlines,” added the release.

“While the Terminal 2 of the airport operates both domestic as well as international flight, the airport currently operates 50 international and 9 domestic airlines. The primary runway at CSMIA handles more than 46 arrivals and departures per hour while the secondary runway has a capacity of 35 flight movements per hour,” it added.

Source Credit: zeenews / Pic courtesy: csia.in

Read more on QatarIndians.com:

IndiGo to operate second direct flight from Doha to Hyderabad and Delhi

IndiGo to operate second direct Hyderabad-Doha flight service from 16 Sep 2019.  Flight 6E 1727 will depart Hyderabad at 11.40pm and arrive in Doha at 1.25am the next day. Also on the same day, additional flight service between Delhi-Doha service will commence. Flight 6E 1775 will depart Delhi at 8.20pm and reach Doha at 10 pm. The Doha-Delhi flight (6E 1776), also from September 16, will depart HIA at 11 pm and arrive in Delhi at 5.15am the next day (Current IndiGo Doha-Hyderabad-Doha and Doha-Kochi-Doha Flights

IndiGo to launch additional flights from Doha to Delhi and Hyderabad

IndiGo to launch additional flights from Doha to Delhi and Hyderabad

Indian carrier IndiGo will launch additional flights between Doha and two Indian cities from next month, it is learnt.

The airline will operate a second direct flight each to Delhi and Hyderabad, according to information available on its website and local newspaper reports.

The second direct Hyderabad-Doha service will commence on September 16. Flight 6E 1727 will depart Hyderabad at 11.40pm and arrive in Doha at 1.25am the next day.

The Doha-Hyderabad flight (6E 1731), starting September 17, will depart Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) at 2.25am and reach Hyderabad at 9.05am.

The second direct Delhi-Doha service will also begin on September 16. Flight 6E 1775 will depart Delhi at 8.20pm and reach Doha at 10 pm. The Doha-Delhi flight (6E 1776), also from September 16, will depart HIA at 11 pm and arrive in Delhi at 5.15am the next day.

IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Limited) is an Indian low-cost airline and the largest airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size. It is also the largest individual Asian low-cost carrier in terms of jet fleet size and passengers carried with a 48.1% domestic market share as of June 2019. It is the seventh-largest carrier in Asia with over 46 million passengers carried in 2017. The airline operates flights to 66 destinations – 51 domestic and 15 international. It has its primary hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.

Current IndiGo Doha-Hyderabad-Doha and Doha-Kochi-Doha Flights:

  • Doha to Hyderabad: Leaves from Doha at 22:00 (10 pm Qatar time) and land in Hyderabad at 05:00 (5 am IST) next day
  • Hyderabad to Doha: Leaves from Hyderabad at 07:15 (07.15 am IST) and land in Doha at 09:30 (09:30 am Qatar time)
  • Doha to Kochi: Leaves from Doha at 10:30 (10.30 am Qatar time) and land in Kochi at 17:40 (05:40 pm IST)
  • Kochi to Doha: Leaves from Kochi at 18:50 (6.50 pm IST) and land in Doha at 21:00 (9 pm IST) next day

Sushma Swaraj Former External Affairs Minister Passes Away

Sushma Swaraj Former External Affairs Minister Passes Away at 67 After Heart Attack

RIP Sushma Swaraj |’We will miss you’

Sushma Swaraj, former external affairs minister, and senior BJP leader, passed away on Tuesday night. She was 67. Sushma Swaraj was one of the rare loved politicians across party lines. The senior BJP leader was brought to AIIMS around 9:30 pm and was straight away taken to the emergency ward. AIIMS doctors said she died of a cardiac arrest.

Undoubtedly she was one of the best external affairs minister India had. During her tenure as Foreign Minister, she had developed a reputation of an approachable minister, often helping Indians facing troubles related to passports and visas.

A seven-time MP Swaraj did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and chose to sit out of the government this year on account of her health.

“A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets.

Swaraj had put out a tweet in the evening congratulating Prime Modi after the Centre’s move to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir

Chandrayaan 2 – ISRO rescheduled launch on 22 July 2019 at 14:43 IST

Chandrayaan 2 – ISRO rescheduled launch on 22 July 2019 at 14:43

Chandrayaan 2, India’s mission to the moon is now rescheduled to launch on 22nd of July 2019.

It is scheduled to lift at 14:43 IST on Monday, 22 July 2019. It will be launched from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC), Sriharikota as stated on ISRO website on Saturday.

Chandrayaan  2 launch was called off earlier due to technical issues noticed just an hour the launch on 15th of July 2019.

Scientists have praised the ISRO team on their swift action taken rather than hurrying into a major issue.

After the call off, the expert team analyzed the issue in the GSLV Mark III rocket which caused the issue. Also, they have suggested action to fix. It was told that the hitch was found when liquid-propellant was being loaded in the rocket’s indigenous cryogenic upper stage engine. All technical issues are fixed and set to lift tomorrow.

It will take 48 days for Chandrayaan 2 to complete the task of the moon landing as stated by ISRO. After the successful launch, India will be the 4th country to do a soft landing on the Moon. The US, Russia, and China are the 3 countries who have achieved this so far. We wish all the best to the ISRO team and proud of being an Indian.

Image Credit: zeenews.com

 

 

Chandrayaan 2 – India’s unmanned Moon mission ready to take off tomorrow 15 July 2019

Chandrayaan 2 – India’s unmanned Moon mission ready to take off tomorrow 15 July 2019

Almost after 10 years since Chandrayaan 1 (Oct 2008) was launched, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch Chandrayaan 2. Chandra – Moon and Yaan – a vehicle is Chandrayaan, the Lunar Vehicle.

Chandrayaan-2 will be launched tomorrow, 15th July 2019 at 2:51 am IST from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre. It will be depositing a lander and rover on the surface of the Moon. Also, India will become the 4th country to soft land on the lunar surface.

ISRO Live streaming of the launch by can be viewed on the below online and TV channel. (It will be available from 2.21 am IST on 15th July 2019 which is 30 minutes before the launch)

Chandrayaan 2 aboard a GSLV Rocket (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle). It is not just a proof of India’s growth in space but also it inspires the next generation scientists and engineers.

The new mission will consist of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. The orbiter will perform the mapping from an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles), while the lander will make a soft landing on the surface and send out the rover, reported the Indian Space Research Organization.

On ISRO’s website, it stated that “The payloads will collect scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice,”. Also, ISRO stated that the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter will circle the moon and provide information about its surface.

Objectives of Chandrayaan 2:

  • Make a soft landing on the unmapped surface of the Moon on the South Pole.
  • The first time any mission touched down so far from the equator
  • Experiments that will be conducted to study the lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, the lunar exosphere and signs for hydroxyl – a molecule involving hydrogen and oxygen which has, among other things, significance when it comes to the search for extraterrestrial life – and water ice on the lunar surface. 

Image Credit: indiatoday.in

Also Read: ISRO’s mission to the moon

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